A Samaritan’s Purse intern shares what she’s learning and how God is working in her life.
APPLY NOW FOR THE FALL 2021 INTERNSHIP SESSION
I was absolutely thrilled after receiving the offer to be an intern in Cúcuta, Colombia. I had dreamed for two years of interning with Samaritan’s Purse, and I could not believe it was actually happening. As a recent graduate with degrees in Communication and Spanish, I could not wait to get out in the field, grow professionally, and have a faith community in Latin America. As eager as I was, I could have never anticipated the many ways that being an intern would shape me as I saw God at work in Colombia.
Bethany enjoys encouraging the migrant children.
Four months have flown by, and I am humbled by the opportunities to grow professionally and to use my passions and skills as an intern with Samaritan’s Purse. I have been working in Human Resources in Cúcuta. Through organizing new applicant files, contracts, and translating job descriptions, I have seen how the character of Samaritan’s Purse persists through each employee hired in Boone, North Carolina, and all around the world.
I have seen partnerships formed and teams built. I have translated reports that taught me about the key aspects of report writing and helped me learn more about our work. I’ve consistently been assigned new projects, allowing me to learn soft skills such as time management, organization, motivation, and flexibility.
“I am humbled by the opportunities to grow professionally.”
One of the best aspects of serving with Samaritan’s Purse is the Christ-exalting work environment that naturally pushes you toward excellence, professionalism, and glorifying God no matter where you find yourself working in the organization. This means that from the day I arrived, I have been able to learn and grow by observing and working with people who are truly passionate about what they do.
Reaching Migrants with the Gospel
Perhaps my favorite thing about the internship is that mixed in with days in the office, I also frequently spend time with Venezuelan migrants at the Samaritan’s Purse shelters. I am even able to use my passion for children’s ministry. The Samaritan’s Purse team teaches the migrant children about issues such as processing emotions, preventing abuse, and dangers on the road.
Bethany reads Scripture with the children.
I have connected these lessons to Bible stories and developed a short curriculum for the children. One of the lessons we do relates the Biblical Exodus to the migrant journey. Like the Israelites leaving Egypt, these families leave behind all that is familiar, not knowing exactly where they are going or how they will get there. We share with them that God knows where they are going, He will make a way for them, and He has a place prepared for them in Heaven!
Throughout my time as an intern, I have been struck by God’s personal and never-ending love and how He shows it to His people. I was overwhelmed by the need and the heartbreak when I first started visiting the shelter. I asked God to show me how to love the people I encountered, even throughout our brief interactions. He showed me time and time again His deep love for the migrant families in the way He encouraged them through Scripture and met their specific needs. He knows and loves each migrant and is always with them. He is also with me, giving me specific ways to demonstrate His love. All this has brought to life for me 1 John 4:7: “Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
“We share with them that God will make a way.”
While I knew from the beginning that I would love this internship, it has exceeded my expectations by giving me the chance to grow professionally, use my passions and skills, and see God’s deep and personal love for the people of the world.
This post was written by Bethany Jobe, a Samaritan’s Purse intern in Colombia. Applications are still open for the fall 2021 internship session. International interns are placed in one of our field offices around the world. Apply now or email internships@samaritan.org to learn more.
